New Conference re-alignment thread

[Saulbadguy]

The old one has AIDS.

Anyways, Chip Brown from Orangebloods.com reports OU may apply to the Pac-12 by the end of the month.

Oklahoma will apply for membership to the Pac-12 before the end of the month, and Oklahoma State is expected to follow suit, a source close to OU's administration told Orangebloods.com.

Even though Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said Friday the Pac-12 was not interested in expansion at this time, OU's board of regents is fed up with the instability in the Big 12, the source said.

The OU board of regents will meet within two weeks to formalize plans to apply for membership to the Pac-12, the source said.

Messages left Sunday night with OU athletic director Joe Castiglione and Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder were not immediately returned.

If OU follows through with what appears to be a unanimous sentiment on the seven-member Oklahoma board of regents to leave the Big 12, realignment in college athletics could be heating back up. OU's application would be matched by an application from Oklahoma State, the source said, even though OSU president Burns Hargis and mega-booster Boone Pickens both voiced their support for the Big 12 last Thursday.

There is differing sentiment about if the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors are ready to expand again after bringing in Colorado and Utah last year and landing $3 billion TV contracts from Fox and ESPN. Colorado president Bruce Benson told reporters last week CU would be opposed to any expansion that might bring about east and west divisions in the Pac-12.

Currently, there are north and south divisions in the Pac-12. If OU and OSU were to join, Larry Scott would have to get creative.

Scott's orginal plan last summer was to bring in Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and put them in an eastern division with Arizona and Arizona State. The old Pac-8 schools (USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State) were to be in the west division.

Colorado made the move in June 2010, but when Texas A&M was not on board to go west, the Big 12 came back together with the help of its television partners (ABC/ESPN and Fox).

If Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were accepted into the Pac-12, there would undoubtedly be a hope by Larry Scott that Texas would join the league. But Texas sources have indicated UT is determined to hang onto the Longhorn Network, which would not be permissible in the Pac-12 in its current form.

Texas sources continue to indicate to Orangebloods.com that if the Big 12 falls apart, the Longhorns would consider "all options."

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe held an emergency conference call 10 days ago with league presidents excluding Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M and asked the other league presidents to "work on Texas" because Beebe didn't think the Pac-12 would take Oklahoma without Texas.

Now, it appears OU is willing to take its chances with the Pac-12 with or without Texas.

There seemed to be a temporary pause in any possible shifting of the college athletics' landscape when Baylor led a charge to tie up Texas A&M's move to the Southeastern Conference in legal red tape. BU refused to waive its right to sue the SEC over A&M's departure from the Big 12, and the SEC said it would not admit Texas A&M until it had been cleared of any potential lawsuits.

Baylor, Kansas and Iowa State have indicated they will not waive their right to sue the SEC.

It's unclear if an application by OU to the Pac-12 would draw the same threats of litigation against the Pac-12 from those Big 12 schools.

Stay tuned.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Forward Dante

Theres only a handful of TV's in Oklahoma. Their Tier 1/2 are worth a ton because almost all of their games are shown nationally. They were in discussions to make a network in the style of the LHN but it was determined to not be economically viable.

well, that would lead me to wonder why Okie State got so much, then?

I think its just that OU's non-con games all got picked up. Maybe Okie State made more money on basketball, too.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

2) Texas recruiting. Go ask Arkansas - a school that is closer to Texas, has more history in Texas, and used to recruit Texas like crazy - how much they like recruiting Texas from the SEC, while the Big 12 puts a dome around the state. It would fall off - perhaps significantly - if Missouri goes to the SEC while the Big 12 still exists.

Well, duh. The SEC doesn't have a presence in Texas. Once A&M officially joins the league that will change and will have an impact on recruiting, even if marginally at first.

[HemiEd]

In a move to placate Texas, all of the other Big 12 members pledged that from now, going forward, they will only recruit athletes from the state of Alaska.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Well, duh. The SEC doesn't have a presence in Texas. Once A&M officially joins the league that will change and will have an impact on recruiting, even if marginally at first.

I don't really understand how that works. I'm not sure how to frame the question, but what stops SEC from recruiting Texas right now?

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by frazod

Beebe never really existed - he was just a Dodds' ventriloquist dummy. He's not being fired - just put in box and stored.

Found a recent pic.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Brock

I don't really understand how that works. I'm not sure how to frame the question, but what stops SEC from recruiting Texas right now?

Playing in front of friends and family and on local TV is important to some recruits. Once A&M joins the SEC there will be SEC games in College Station and the SEC will be more televised in Texas. It's not going to change overnight, but now SEC coaches can use those two things in addition to offering the chance to play against a higher level of competition.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by alnorth

well, that would lead me to wonder why Okie State got so much, then?

I think its just that OU's non-con games all got picked up. Maybe Okie State made more money on basketball, too.

As I stated last year basketball makes a killing for many schools. Obvious here being that Kansas has the 2nd most coming in when it comes to 3rd tier rights.

The ACC is going to make a killing with a new bball TV deal now that they added two basketball schools.

I think the Big12 is fine with football w/ OU and UT. Those school will always make this conf very valuable when it comes to fb.

I'd love to see Louisville brought in. They are a top 5 bball program when it comes to value. A rivalry between Self and Pitino over championships and players would be so fun to watch.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Playing in front of friends and family and on local TV is important to some recruits. Once A&M joins the SEC there will be SEC games in College Station and the SEC will be more televised in Texas. It's not going to change overnight, but now SEC coaches can use those two things in addition to offering the chance to play against a higher level of competition.

Texas and Oklahoma get the best recruits from Texas.

A&M gets 2nd and 3rd level players. A great player is not going to choose A&M over Texas just because they will play in the SEC. I understand that the SEC is better top to bottom but the Big 12 is the perfect place for Texas players to get their value up for the NFL.

This is a terrible move for A&M on the field.

But they are in a tough spot anyway. They've been trying for decades and still never win a bowl game.

Maybe a change of scenery will help but I doubt it.

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Well, duh. The SEC doesn't have a presence in Texas. Once A&M officially joins the league that will change and will have an impact on recruiting, even if marginally at first.

I doubt the SEC starts going crazy in Texas recruiting, simply because there is a large enough supply of talent in Florida and the rest of the Southeast.

Didn't the SEC Presidents recently vote to ban oversigning? If so, with the 25 scholarships rule and a ton of talent already in the Southeast, I don't see the well going dry in Texas for Big 12 teams any time soon.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

Texas and Oklahoma get the best recruits from Texas.

A&M gets 2nd and 3rd level players. A great player is not going to choose A&M over Texas just because they will play in the SEC. I understand that the SEC is better top to bottom but the Big 12 is the perfect place for Texas players to get their value up for the NFL.

This is a terrible move for A&M on the field.

But they are in a tough spot anyway. They've been trying for decades and still never win a bowl game.

Maybe a change of scenery will help but I doubt it.

And they wold get even more value going against SEC competition.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

Texas and Oklahoma get the best recruits from Texas.

A&M gets 2nd and 3rd level players. A great player is not going to choose A&M over Texas just because they will play in the SEC. I understand that the SEC is better top to bottom but the Big 12 is the perfect place for Texas players to get their value up for the NFL.

This is a terrible move for A&M on the field.

But they are in a tough spot anyway. They've been trying for decades and still never win a bowl game.

Maybe a change of scenery will help but I doubt it.

You're insane. Moving to the SEC gives A&M a much greater shot at competing with UT and OU for Texas recruits. The SEC gets more players drafted than any other conference. They have the best coaches, facilities, and level of competition. A&M will benefit from being out of Texas' shadow and in the SEC.

Originally Posted by eazyb81

I doubt the SEC starts going crazy in Texas recruiting, simply because there is a large enough supply of talent in Florida and the rest of the Southeast.

Didn't the SEC Presidents recently vote to ban oversigning? If so, with the 25 scholarships rule and a ton of talent already in the Southeast, I don't see the well going dry in Texas for Big 12 teams any time soon.

I agree that they wont go crazy, but they will start to creep in and grab some recruits that they otherwise wouldn't have been able to.

Yes, they voted to ban oversigning but it still happens. Last year South Carolina signed 32 and Arkansas signed 30.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Wickedson

I wouldn't worry about trying to convince a Nebraska fan what its like to land a 5 star recruit.

Nebraska doesn't get any of those.

Pssst Aaron Green is a 5 star recruit but he's not in the Heisman race like Jordan Webb.

[Titty Meat]

So is this it for conference switches?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Pssst Aaron Green is a 5 star recruit but he's not in the Heisman race like Jordan Webb.

He's a five star on scout, which is hardly the authority on Texas football talents.

Scout - great for basketball, shitty at football recruiting.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

He's a five star on scout, which is hardly the authority on Texas football talents.

Scout - great for basketball, shitty at football recruiting.

Meh the kid is def a 5 star talent. If we go by Rivals we have one starting on the defensive line: Baker Steinkuhler. So once again Wickedson is wrong go get in line for late night bruh.